Closure for grave-vaults.



Patented J an. 18,1910.

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J. PFEIFER.

GLOSURB POR GRAVE VAULTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1909.

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QN QN J. PFEIFER.

CLOSURB FOR GRAVE VAULTS.

'APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1909.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

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J. PPEIFBR.

GLOSURE POR GRAVE VAULTS.' APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 1, 1909.

946,863. Patented Jan.1s,1910.

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J. PFEIPER. GLOSURE POR GRAVE VAULTS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 1, 1909.

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JOI-IN PFEIFER, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE CHAMPION CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

CLOSU'RE FOR GRAVE-VAULTS.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I; JOHN Premian; a. citizen of the United States, residing at Springlield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Closures for Grave-Vaults; of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to closures for grave vaults, and the object of the invention is to provide a closure for end-opening vaults which will be both moisture and vermin proof.

To this end it is a further object of the invention to provide the closure with a plurality of bolts adapted to locl; and clamp the closure in position; to provide means for positively7 moving said bolts into and out of their locking positions; to provide means for moving said bolts transversely to the direction of their length to cause the same to clamp the closure iirmly in position; to provide separate actuating members for each of said means; te provide means for preventing` movement of said bolts in any direction after they have been once moved into a predetermined position; further, to so arrange said bolts that the locking fingers of one of said bolts will form guides to facilitate the placing of the closure in position; and to so construct and arrange the several parts of the closure as to combine positiveness of movement of the bolts with strength and simplicity.

lith these objects in view my invention consists in certain novel features and in certain combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter to be described, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the inner face of the closure; Fig. 2 is a vertical, sectional view, taken centrally of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a vertical, sectional view showing the central portion of what is shown in Fig. 2, on an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is an elevation of the inside of the inner face of the closure with the cam plate removed; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the automaticlocking plate, its actuating spring and its detent; Fig. 6 is a detail view of the connecting pawl; Fig. 7 is a detail view of a modified form of locking mechanism; Fig. S is a sectional view, showing a plurality of actuating members; and Fig. 9 is an eleva- Speecaton of Letters Patent.

Application led March 1, 1909.

Patented J an. 18, 1910. Serial No. 480,585.

tion of the central portion of the inner face of the closure; with the clamping plate; cam plate and bolts removed.

In these drawings I have illustrated two embodiments of my invention and have shown the same as combined with an endopening grave vault of ordinary construction, comprising a body portion l having a flange 2 extending inwardly therefrom near the open end thereof and preferably extending entirely about the inner wall of said body portion. The closure preferably comprises a head or closure proper 3 of a size and shape to adapt the same to tit snugly within the end of the body portion l of the vault. The edges of this closure are preferably turned inwardly, as shown at et; to assist in retaining in position a packing 5, which, when the head is in position, will lie between the head and the Hang-e 2.

A plurality of bolts are arranged on the inner face of the closure or head 3. These bolts may be of any suitable character and the number and arrangement of the same may be varied to accommodate the same to existing circumstances, but I have here shown each of the bolts as comprising a body portion G, which is provided with a series of locking fingers 7. These lingers may be connected to their respective body portions in any suitable manner; but I prefer to connect the several lingers of each bolt one to the other by means of a transversely extending bar 8 and to connect the bar to the body portion (i of the bolt by converging arms 9, there being preferably one arm for each locking finger T. The bolts may be made up in any suitable manner, but I prefer to cast the entire bolt in a single piece and have so shown the bolts in the present form of the invention. `Each locking finger 7 is mounted in a suitable guide, which, in the present instance, consists of a lug 10 rigidly secured to the closure at a distance slightly removed from the edge thereof and having an aperture ll through which the locking finger 'T extends loosely. The body portions G of the side and top bolts are each provided with a longitudinal slot l2 adapted to receive a pin 155 which is rigidly secured to the closure 3. rihis pin forms a guide for the inner end or body portion of each bolt and permits the bolts to be moved.longitudinally to move the locking' fingers thereof into their locking po-Y sitions in the rear of the flange 2 of the ga'gement with the rear face of the flange Q.

The body portion (i of the lowermost bolt is provided with an aperture 1st of a diameter slightly greater than its corresponding pin i 15 which is rigidly secured to the closure 13 and is similar to the pins 13. Thus, the lowcrmost bolt is held against longitudinal movement, but is capable of transverse movement to cause the clamping lingers 7 thereof to engage the fiange 2. The aperture 1li in the body portion of this lowe 'most bolt so arranged that the clamping fingers are at all times in their locking position and the lower ends of these fingers are preferably curved outwardly, as shown at 1G, and, inasmuch as they are at all times in their extended position, they form guides which greatly facilitate the placing of the closure in position within the vault.

Suitable means provided for moving the side and top bolts longitudinally7 to bring the same into their locking position and other means are provided for then moving all the bolts transversely to cause the locking fingers thereof to engage the liange 2 and l clamp the closure firmly in position with the packing 4compressed between the flange and the closure. ln that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to (i both the locking means and the clamping means are controlled by a common actuating member which acts to successively move the bolts into their looking position and then to move the same transverselyY to bring them intoi;

their clamping position. This actuating member is here shown as a rotary key or bolt 17 rotatably mounted in the closure 3 near the center thereof and provided on its outer end with a suitable wrench grasp 18, b.' means of which the same may be rotated. The inner end of this actuating member extends some distance beyond the inner surface of the closure P3 and is provided. at a point near the inner surface of said closure with a disk 19 which is rigidly secured there to and is provided in its outer edge with a plurality of recesses Q0, these recesses being preferably arranged at frequent intervals, the spacebetween the same being sufficient merely to provide a tooth of the necessary strength. A leather washer 19a may, if desired, be arranged between the toothed disl; and the inner surface of the closure. rlhis toothed disk is preferably inclosed in a housing 21 having a central aperture through which the actuating member 1? extends. rlhis housing is rigidly secured to the inner surface of the closure 3 and is provided with radial arms 22, to which the pins 13 and 15 are rigidly secured and through the medium of which these pins are rigidly secured to the closure This housing 21 is provided with a slot arranged above the toothed edge of the disk 19 for the purpose which will here inafter appear.

The actuating member 17 is provided at a point beyond the housing 21 with a screwthreaded portion 2t and has that portion thereof lying beyond the screw -threaded portion reduced in size and without threads, as shown at Q5, thus forming a shoulder' 2G at the poi nt of union of the reduced portion of the screwthreaded portion 2li of the actuating member. i plate 2T, which may be termed the clamping member or clamping plate, is supported adjacent to the inner side of the housing 21 and has a screwthreaded aperture S to receive the screwthreaded portion of the actuating member. This clamping plate is preferably provided with a boss 29 having a screw-threaded aperture forming a continuation of the screw-tln'eaded aperture 2S which extends through the plate. This clamping plate 2T is provided on its opposite sides with oppositely extending segmental wings 30 and the plate proper has its edges, which lie hetween the adjacent sides of the segmental wings o0, curved, as shown. rEhe plate proper is ot such a diameter that the opposite edges thereof will extend beneath the inner ends of the body portions of the upper and lower bolts,` respectively, these bolts being preferably provided with offset portions within which the plate lits. rllhc segmental wings 30 of this plate extend beneath the inner edges of the body portions of the side bolts. Thus, it will be apparent that the actuating member is held against longitudinal movement owing to the arrangement of the disk 19 between the housing 21 and the inner surface of the closure 3, and, consequently, when the actuating member is roe tated, the clamping plate 2T will travel in.- wardly on the threaded portion Zit of the actuating member and the inner ends of the bolts will move with the clamping plate, thereby moving the bolts transversely to the direction of their length, and will pivot about the fulcrums formed by the apertured lugs 10 and cause the outer ends thereof to be moved into clamping engagement with the rear surface of the flange Q.

Means are also provided for moving the side and top bolts longitudinally to bring the outer ends thereof into their locking positions in the rear of the flange 2, and. to this end, l have provided a cam plate 32 which is operatively connected to the actuating member 17' and is provided on three sides with cam slots 33, these slots being arranged. to receive projections or pins 34 which are carried by the inner ends of the side and top bolts. These cam slots are of llo lil() such a degree of curvature and are so arranged relatively to the bolts and to each other that a partial rotation of the cam plate will cause the bolts to be positively moved inwardly or outwardly according to the direction in which the cam plate is rotated. This cam plate is preferably connected to the actuating member through the medium of the clamping plate 27, and, to this end, the clamping plate is provided with upwardly extending projections or lugs 35 having reduced upper portions adapted to extend through apertures 36 in the cam plate. Screws 37 are inserted in the lugs 31S and the heads of the screws projecting over the edges of the slot in the cam plate serve to retain the cam plate in position Aupon the lugs and to rigidly secure the same to the clamping plate 27.

In order that the cam plate may be rotated a distance sufficient to move the bolts into their locking positions and may then be released from the actuating member to permit the actuating member to rotate independently thereof, suitable shifting device is provided for rotating the cam plate, and, in the present instance, 1 have mount-ed on the clamping plate 27 a dog 3S which is pivotally mounted on a pin 39, carried by the clamping plate and extends above the slot 23 in the housing` 21. The dog 38 has a depending tooth l() which extends through an aperture 51 in the clamping plate and through the slot 23 and is adapted to enter one of the recesses in the toothed disk 19. rlhe tooth t() is substantially circular in cross section, but has one side flattened, as shown at 4:1. This flat side of the tooth is arranged in such relation to the teeth of the disk 19 that, when that disk is rotated forwardly, one of the teeth will engage the flat portion of the tooth il() and move the dog and the clamping plate, to which it is secured, along with the actuating member. This tooth is retained within the recess and in engagement with the tooth of the disk 19 by means of a spring 42 which is connected at one end to a linger 43, carried by the dog and extending beyond its pivotal center, and is connected at its other end to a lug Lll carried by the clamping plate. The forward end of the dog is slightly curved, as shown at 4:5, and extends in front of the pin l in such a position that, as the dog moves forward, along with the actuating member 17, th-e foremost corner of the curved edge 45 of the dog will come into engagement with the edge of the body portion (l of one of the bolts and will move the dog about its pivotal center. lnasmuch as the tooth l0 is arranged between the foremost point of th-e dog and its pivotal center the tooth will be moved out of the recess and the dog and the clamping and cam plates will be released from the actuating member and that member permitted to rotate independently thereof. Thus, it will be apparent that,l with the bolts in their retracted or unlocked positions, the first movement of the actuating member 17 will rotate the cam plate a distance sufficient to set the bolts in their lock ing positions and will then be immediately disconnected from said cam plate, and that the continued rotation of the actuating member will cause the clamping plate and the cam plate, which is secured thereto, to move outwardly, thus moving the bolts about their pivotal centers or fulcrnms and causing the outer ends thereof to engage the inner surface of the flange 2.

ln order to lock the clamping plate against movement after it has been once moved into a position to set the bolts in their clamping positions, l have so arranged the length of the screw-threaded portion of the actuating member that it will be withdrawn from the screw-threaded aperture in the clamping plate 27 when this plate has been moved into a predetermined position. Thus, the continued rotation of the actuating member has no effect on the clamping plate and there is no danger of the bolts or other parts of the mechanism being broken by excessive force applied to the actuating member. To lock the clamping plate in this position I provide a stop, such as a plate 4G, which is pivotally mounted at one side of the screw-threaded opening in the boss 29. A spring @t7 tends to move this plate normally toward that portion of the actuating member 17 which extends beyond said boss. Then the clamping plate is moved forwardly far enough to be freed from the sCrewHthreads 24tof the actuating member, the reduced, unthreaded portion 25 will be drawn entirely within the aperture in the boss and in the actuating plate 27 and the plate 46 will move across the aperture in the boss and thus prevent the actuating member from again extending beyond the end of the boss. rllhe length of this reduced portion of the actuating member is such that it will prevent the threaded portion of the actuating member from engaging' the threaded aperture in the clamping plate. and, consequently, no great amount of pressure can be exerted upon the latch plate. The plate 4G is preferably inclosed within a housing l8 rigidly secured to the cam plate 32 and preferably formed integral therewith. This housing provided with a central aperture, through which the reduced end 25 of the actuating member extends, and is also provided with a slot i9 through which a thumb piece 50, carried by the pivoted plate 46, may extend. This thumb piece serves as a detent and enables the latch plate to be moved away from the opening and locked in its inoperative position, thereby permitting the closure to be temporarily clamped in position in the vault and then removed therel' toothed disk 19, which, in the above device, from. I'Vhen the pivoted plate 16 is released was rigidly secured to said actuating memand the parts moved into such a position as to permit the plate to move across the end of the apertured boss 29, it will be impossible to again operate the mechanism and the vault will be permanently sealed.

The operation of the device will be readily understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that the continued operation of the actuating member will first positively move the bolts into their locking positions and will then move the same into their clamping positions to clamp the closure against the packing` lying between the same and the iiange 2; that the cam plate will be automatically disconnected from the actuating member when the latter has been rotated a distance sufficient to set the bolts; and that, when the clamping plate has been actuated su'tiiciently to move the bolts into their clamped position, it will be automatically locked against movement in either direction, thus permanentlyT sealing the vault.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have shown a modified form of locking means, in which I have mounted a pawl 58 on the inner face of the closure in such a position that its inner end may be moved into engagement with the teeth of the toothed disk 19. This pawl is connected by a spring 59 to a lever 60 which is pivotally connected to the closure at such a point that, when in position against a stop G1 arranged on one side thereof, the pawl 5S will be held out of engagement with the toothed member 19, and, when the lever is in engagement with the second stop 62 arranged on the opposite side thereof, the paivl 58 will be moved into engagement with the toothed disk, thus eifectually locking the disk 19 and the actuating member 17, to which it is rigidly secured, againstmovement in a reverse direction.` In will be understood that the lever 60 is moved into one or the other of its positions before the closure is placed in the vault. If it is desired to close the vault temporarily the lever is adjusted to hold the pawl in its inoperative position. If a permanent closure is desired the lever is adjusted to hold the pawl in position to engage the toothed disk 19, thus locking the actuating member and, consequently, the parts actuated thereby, against movement in a reverse direction.

In Figs. 8 and 9 of the drawings I have illustrated a second embodiment of the invention, in which I have provided separate actuating members for imparting the necessar)Y movement to the cam plate and to the clamping plate for successively setting and 1 clamping the bolts. rI'o this end I have employed substantially the same arrangement of the locking and clamping mechanism. In the clamping mechanism I have removed from the actuating member 17 the ber within the housing 21, and I have also eliminated the coperating toothed plate 38 which was carried by the clamping plate. The housing 21 I have provided with a curved slot 52. The clamping plate 27 has rigidly secured thereto, and extending inwardly through the slot a pin or projection 53 which is of such a length that, when the clamping plate is in its retracted or inoperative position, the inner end of the pin will lie a considerable distance beyond the inner wall of the housing 21. A second actuating member or key 5st is mounted in the housing 3, and, as here shown, has its inner end journaled in the housing 21 at a point near the slot 52, as shown at This actuating member corresponds in function to the shifting device of Figs. 1 and G and is, in the present instance, shown as provided with two arms 5G extending at an angle one to the other, arranged on opposite sides of the pin 53 and of such a length that, when the actuating member 54k is rotated, one of the arms will engage the pin 53 and move the same longitudinally of the slot 52, and thereby rotate the clamping plate 27 and the cam plate 32, which is secured thereto, through a partial revolution. This movement of the cam plate is sufficient to move the bolts into or out of their locking positions, according to the direction of the movement of the cam plate. The actuating member or key 51 is provided on its outer end with a wrench grasp 57, by means of which it may be readily actuated to throw the bolts. The pin 53 being permanently connected to the clamping plate 27 will move outwardly with that plate, and, when that plate has been moved outwardly a sufiicient distance to clamp the bolts, the pin 53 will be moved out of the path of the arms 5G, and, consequently, it will be impossible to move the bolts out of their locked positions without first moving the same out of their clamped positions. To prevent the bolts being released from their clamped position the same locking means described in conneclll t) tion with the iirst embodiment of the invenl 7 position the actuating member 54 is rotated to move the pin 53 into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9 and thus actuate the cam plate to set the bolts. After the bolts have been set the actuating member 17 is rotated to actuate the clamping plate 27 eaasee to move the bolts into their clamping positions, at the same time withdrawing the pin 53 from the path of the arms Then the bolts have been moved into their clamping positions the clamping plate 27 will have been moved beyond the screw-threaded portion 2i of the actuatinO` member 1T and will have been locked out of engagement with the screw-tlueadcd portion of that member, and, consequently, it will be impossible for the movement of either of the actuating members 17 and t, in any .manner, to affect the positions of the bolts. then it is desired to temporarily lock the closure in position, when the vault is to be used as a shipping case, the bolts will be moved into their locking positions without actuating the clamping member or the locking plate 4G may be secured in its inoperative position, as above described. In the first instance the locking pin will lie at all times in the path of the lingers 56 and the closure may be locked and unlocked at pleasure. In the latter instance the clamping plate may be retracted to its inoperative position, thus bringing the pin 53 again into the path of the lingers 56 and enabling the bolts to be withdrawn.

I wish it to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. For instance, it is not essential to the operation of the locking mechanism that there should be two arms 56 on the actuating member 54.

Further, it is not essential that the screwthreaded portion 9.4L of the actuating niember 17 should be entirely withdrawn from the screw-threaded aperture in the clamping plate. It is sufficient that this screw-threaded portion be substantially withdrawn, leaving, for instance, one or two threads in engagement with the clamping plate. In such case the rotation of the actuating member in a reverse direction after the latch has moved across the end of the actuating member will serve to strip the threads from the bolt and the result would be the same as if the screwthreaded member had been entirely withdrawn from the aperture.

l-Iaving thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, and a closure therefor, of bolts slidably mounted on said closure and having projections near the inner ends thereof, a cam plate extending above the inner ends of said bolts and having slots adapted to receive said projections, a clamping plate extending beneath the inner ends of said bolts, means for connecting said clamping plate t0 said cam plate, an actuating member mounted in said closure and operatively connected to said clamping plate, and a shifting device for causing said cam plate to move relatively to said bolts.

2. In a grave vault, the combination, with body portion, and a closure therefor, of bolts movably mounted on said closure, a locking plate adapted to move said bolts into their locking positions, a clamping plate connected to said locking plate, spaced therefrom, having a screw-threaded aperture and engaging' the ends of said bolts which extend into the space between said plates, an actuating member rotatably mounted in said closure and having a screw-threaded portion adapted to engage the screw-threaded aperture in said clamping plate, and means for rotating said clamping plate and said locking plate to move said bolts into their locking positions.

In a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, and a closure therefor, of bolts movably mounted on said closure, means for moving said bolts into their locking positions, a clamping plate having a screw threaded aperture and adapted to move said bolts into their clamping positions, and an actuating member rotatably mounted in said closure and having a screwthreaded portion mounted in the screwthreaded aperture in' said clamping plate, said screw-threaded aperture being of such a length that, when said bolts have been moved into their clamping` positions, said screw-threaded portion will be substantially withdrawn from said screw-threaded aperture.

il. In a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, and a closure therefor, of bolts movably mounted on said closure, means for moving said bolts into their locking` positions, a clamping plate having a screw-threaded aperture and adapted to move said bolts into their clamping positions, an actuating member rotatably mounted in said closure and having a screw-threaded portion mounted in the screw-threaded aperture in said clamping plate, said screwthreaded aperture being of such a length that, when said bolts have been moved into their clamping positions, saidv screw-threaded portion will be withdrawn from said screw-threaded aperture, and a stop to prevent said screw-threaded portion from again entering said aperture.

In a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, and a closure therefor, of bolts movably mounted on said closure, means for moving said bolts into their locking positions, a clamping plate having a screw-threaded aperture adapted to move said bolts into their clamping positions, an actuating member rotatably mounted in said closure and having a screw-threaded portion mounted in the screw-threaded aperture in said clamping plate, said screw-threaded llO ,Jort-ion being of such a length that when .said bolts have been moved into their clamping positions, said screw-threaded portion will be Withdrawn from said screw-threaded aperture, said actuating member also having a portion extending beyond said threaded portion, said portion bei ng of such a length that when the screw-threaded portion is Withd 'an'n from said aperture, the inner end of said last-mentioned portion will lie Within the aperture in said clamping plate, and a stop to engage said act-uatiiig member and prevent the scrmv-threaded portion thereof from again entering said aperture.

6. In a grave vault, the combinati on, with a bod)y portion, and a closure therefor, of bolts movably mounted on said closure, means for moving said bolts into their loelring positions, a clamping plate having a screw-threaded aperture adapted to move said bolts into their clamping positions, a actuating member rotatably mounted .in said closure and having a screW-tln'eaded portion mounted in the screw-threaded aperture in said clamping plate, said screw-threaded portion being of such a length that ivhen said bolts have been moved into their clamping positions, said screw-threaded portion ivill be ivithdranni from said screw-threaded aperture, said actuating member also having a portion extending bevond said threaded portion, said portion being of such a length that when the screw-threaded portion is withdrawn from said aperture, the inner end of said last-mentioned portion Will lie within the aperture in said clamping plate, and a spring-pressed plate adapted to automatically close the inner end of the aperture in said clamping plate and to engage the inner end of said actuating member' and to prevent the screW-t-hrea ded portion thereof from aOain entering said aperture.

T. In a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, and a closure therefor, of bolts movably mounted on said closure, means for moving said bolts into their locking positions, a clamping plate having a screw-threaded aperture adapted to move said bolts into their clamping positions, an actuating member rotatabliY mounted in said closure, and having a screw-threaded portion mounted in the screw-threaded aperture in said clamping plate, said screw-threaded portion being of such a length that When said bolts have been moved into their clamping positions, said screw-threaded portion will be Withdrawn from said screw-threaded aperture, said actuating member also having a portion extending bevond said threaded portion, said portion being of such a length that when the screw-threaded portion is Withdrawn from said aperture, the inner end of said last-mentioned portion will lie Within the aperture in said clamping plate, and a spring-pressed plate adapted to automaticeli-ases all',Y close the inner end of the aperture in said clamping plate and to engage the inner end of said actuating member to prevent the screw-threaded portion thereof from again entering said aperture, and a detent for retaining said plate in its inoperative position.

S. in a device of the character described, the combination, with a bodv portion, and a closure therefor, of bolts carried by said elosure, means for imparting longitudinal nievement to a part of said bolts, means for holding the remainder of said bolts against longitudinal movement, and means for moving all of said bolts transverseli7 to the direction of their length.

Si. in a device of the character described, the combination, with a body portion, and a closure therefor', of bolts carried by said closure. a part of said bolts having projections near the inner ends thereof, a. rotatable plate having cam slots adapted to receiif'e said projections, a clamping plate movable transversel \T to said bolts and adapted to engage the inner ends of all of said bolts, and means for rotating said cam plate and for actuating said clamping plate, whereinv said bolts are suceessiveljY moved into their locking position and into their clamping position.

l0. In a device of the character described` the combination, ivith a bodv portion, and a closure therefor, of bolts carried by said closure, a part of said bolts being' movable into and out of the locking positions, and the remainder of said bolts being permanently in the loci-:ing positions, and means for moving said bolts into the clamping positions.

ll. ln a grave vaultthe coinbiinition,ivith a bodv portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of a clamping plate mounted Within said closure and having a screw -threaded aperture. a centrally arranged actuating member journaled in said closure and having a screw-threaded portion extending into the aperture in said clamping` plate. a locking plate mounted Within said closure, a second actuating member journaled in said closure at one side of the first actu ating member. and means for operativeliv connecting said second a etuati ng meniber to said locking plate.

l2. ln a grave vault. the coiiibiiiatioii.with a body pox a closure therefor, and bolts mounted ou said closure, of a clamping plate for moving said bolts into their clamping positions. a part rigidlv secured to said clamping plate for moving said bolts into their locking positions, an actuating member for moving said clamping plate and the part carried thereinv in one direction to move said bolts into their locking positions. and a second actuating' member for moving said clamping member in another direction to move said bolts into their clamping positions.

13. In a grave vault, the combination,with

lll() 1 operatively connected to said clamping m mber, of a locking member operatively con- `jection carried by one of said members, a second actuating member journaled in said closure, and a finger carried by said second actuating member and adapted to engage .aid projection.

lei- 1n a grave vault, the combination with a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of a locking plate mounted Within said closure and operatively connected to said bolts, a clamping plate mounted Within said closure and operatively connected to said bolts, a centrally arranged actuating member journaled in said closure and operatively connected to said clamping plate, a second actuating member journaled in said closure, a part carried by said second actuating member, and means for operar tively connecting said part to said locking plate.

15. In a grave vault, the co1nbination,\vith a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of a clamping plate adapted to move said bolts into their clamping positions, a part carried by said clamping plate and adapted to move said bolts into their locking positions, an actuating member journaled in said closure, a finger carried by said actuating member Within said closure, a part carried by said clamping plate and extending into the path of said finger, and a second actuating member journaled in said closure to actuate said clamping plate to move said bolts into their clamping positions.

16. In a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of an actuating member ournaled in said closure and having a screw-threaded portion, a clamping plate having a screw-threaded aperture adapted to receive the screw-threaded portion of said actuating member, a locking member operatively connected to said clamping plate, a second actuating member journaled in said closure, and means for operatively connecting said second actuating member to said clamping plate, whereby said second actuating member will actuate said locking member.

17. 1n a grave vault, the combination, With a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of an actuating member `iournaled in said closure and having a screw-threaded portion, a clamping plate having a screw-threaded aperture adapted to receive the screw-threaded portion of said actuating member, a locking member operatively connected to said cam plate, a pin carried by said clamping plate, a second actuating member journaled in said closure, and a finger carried by said second actuating member adapted to engage said pin.

18. in a grave vault, the combination,

l I with a body portion, a closure therefor, and nectod ivith said clamping member, a probolts mounted on said closure, of an actuating` member journaled in said closure and having a screw-threaded portion, a clamping plate having a screw-threaded aperture adapted to receive the screw-threaded portion of said actuating member, a cam plate operatively connected to said clamping plate, a pin carried by said clamping plate, a second actuating member journaled in said closure, and a finger carried by said second actuating member and adapted to engage said pin.

19. ln a grave vault, the combination, With a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of an actuating member journaled in said closure and having a screw-threaded portion, a clamping plate having a screw-threaded aperture adapted to receive the screw-threaded portion of said actuating member, a cam plate operatively connected to said clamping plate, a pin carried by said clamping plate, a second actuating member journaled in said closure, and two fingers carried by said second actuating member and adapted to engage the opposite sides of said pin.

20. In a grave vault, the combination, vvith a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of a housing mounted on the inner face of said closure and having a slot therein, an actuating member journaled in said closure, extending through said housing and having a screwthreaded portion extending beyond said housing, a clamping plate having a screW- threaded aperture adapted to receive the screw-threaded portion of said actuating member, means carried by said clamping` plate for setting said bolts, a second actuating member journaled in said housing, a finger carried by said second actuating member Within said housing, and a part carried by said clamping member and adapted to extend through said slot into the path of said finger.

21. 1n a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of a cam plate for moving said bolts into their locking positions, an actuating member journaled in said closure, a finger carried by said actuating member, a part connected With said cam plate and extending normally into the path of said finger, and means for moving said part out of the path of said finger.

22. In a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of a clamping member and a locking member' both supported within said closure, an actuating device carried by said closure and operatively connected to one of said members, a projection carried by one of said members, and a second actuating device carried by said closure and having a linger adapted to engage said projection.

235. In a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of a clamping member and a locking member both supported within said closure, an actuating device carried by said closure and operatively connected to said clamping member, a. projection carried by one of said members, and a second actuating device carried by said closure and having a linger adapted to engage said projection.

z-il. In a grave vault, the combination,

, with a body portion, a closure therefor, bolts mounted on said closure, a clamping membei' mounted within said closure, and a locking member mounted within said closure, of two actuating members extending through said closure, one of said actuating members being operatively connected with said locking member to move said bolts into their locking positions and the other of said actuating members being operatively connected to said clamping member and forming the sole means for actuating said clamping-member to move said bolts into their clamping positions.

25.1n a gave vault, the combination, with a body portion, a closure therefor,

bolts mounted on said closure, a clamping plate mounted within said closure and having a screw-threaded aperture, and a loclo ing plate within said closure, of two actuating members extending through said closure, one of said actuating members being operatively connected with said locking plate to move said bolts into their locking positions and the other of said actuating members having a screw-threaded portion adapted to engage the screw-threaded aperture in said clamping plate and forming the sole means for actuating said plate to move said bolts into their clamping positions.

2G. In a grave vault, the combination, with a body portion, a closure therefor, and bolts mounted on said closure, of a clamping plate for moving said bolts into their clamping positions, a member operatively connected to said clamping plate for moving said bolts into their locking positions, an actuating member for moving said clamping plate and the member carried thereby in one direction to move said bolts into their locking positions, and a second actuating member for moving said clamping member in another direction to move said bolts into their clamping` positions.

In testimony whereof, l aiiiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN PFEIFER. Vitnesses:

J. FRED ANDERSON, EDWARD L. REED. 

